PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Arones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Joshua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arones comes to the cage accompanied by Lonely is the night. Mr Joshua will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Arones
vs
Joshua

190 cm
21
265 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
255 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Vikai Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gabriel Arones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arones slips a straight right by Joshua.

Arones closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Joshua did well to prevent Arones getting side control.
Joshua controlling the position well.
Arones wants to pass to mount but Joshua is defending the position.
Arones wants to control but Joshua is keeping him busy.
Arones is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Arones controlling from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshua avoids a series of strikes thrown by Arones.
Arones wants to control the pace but Joshua is squirming around nicely.
Joshua holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Arones tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arones with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Arones jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Joshua is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Joshua and Arones has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Arones working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Arones moves into full mount!
Arones wants to take his opponent's back but instead Joshua manages to regain half guard.
Joshua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Arones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arones is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Joshua trying to keep a closed guard but Arones is proving a slippery customer.
Arones prevents Joshua from getting back to his feet.
Arones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joshua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joshua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arones wants to pass the guard but Joshua is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arones is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arones wants to control from the top but Joshua keeps moving.
Arones pushing down on Joshua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Arones is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Joshua sees it coming and defends easily.
Arones trying to mount his opponent but Joshua defends it.
Joshua is looking to escape.
Arones passes to full mount!

Arones wants to finish this one by submission but Joshua is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Arones.

Arones is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Joshua has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arones looking for a guillotine from mount but Joshua is having none of it.
Arones avoids the attempt from Joshua to control.

Arones is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Joshua can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Arones goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Joshua is on top in guard.
Joshua told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joshua won't allow Arones to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Arones dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Arones works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Arones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Joshua counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Gabriel Arones has been cut.
Joshua looks to throw the jab but Arones is out of range.
Joshua takes one on the button.
Joshua takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab from Arones finds it's way through Joshua's defenses.
Arones ducks right into an uppercut from Joshua.
Arones dodges the punch combination from Joshua.
Joshua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arones manages to avoid it.
Joshua swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arones manages to avoid it.
Arones ducks under a wild hook from Joshua.
Arones half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Joshua wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Arones avoids the body shot from Joshua.
Arones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joshua as he avoids it easily.
Arones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Joshua counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Arones thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Arones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arones misses with a jab to the body
and Joshua connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Arones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joshua's waist but Joshua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Arones off to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Arones misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arones misses with a body shot.
Arones shoots for a takedown but Joshua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mr Joshua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joshua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arones moves away.
Joshua misses with an uppercut. Arones saw that one coming.
Mr Joshua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arones slips a straight right by Joshua.
Arones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joshua was well out of range. Poor timing from Arones.
Joshua appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Joshua misses with a wild body shot.
Arones swings for the body but Joshua moves out of range.
Arones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joshua tries to avoid it but Arones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joshua to the ground. Joshua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joshua throws a lazy right hand but Arones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Arones tries to counter with a takedown but Joshua is quick to defend against it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arones tries to pull guard but Joshua won't allow it.
Joshua tries to break free but Arones pushes him back against the cage.

Arones wants the takedown. Joshua is fighting it off but Arones persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Joshua's guard against the cage.
Arones trying to control the position from guard on top but Joshua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arones advances position into side control!
Arones tries to advance to mount but can't.
Joshua is looking for a sweep.

Joshua explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Arones tests Joshua's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Arones throws a predictable looking body shot
and Joshua counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joshua scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Joshua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arones.
Joshua lands a jab to Arones's midsection.
Arones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Arones looks to land a right hand but Joshua moved out of range.
Joshua swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Joshua comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Joshua lands with a good body shot.
Arones avoids the body shot from Joshua.
Arones feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Joshua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Arones's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Joshua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arones was well out of range. Poor timing from Joshua.
Arones half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Arones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A shot to the liver by Joshua. Beautiful body shot.
Arones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arones shoots in but Joshua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Arones throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Arones changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Joshua scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Joshua lands a jab to the head.
Arones swings for the body but Joshua moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arones moves away.
Arones throws a big shot that misses.
Arones ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joshua moves away.
Joshua looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Joshua misses with a wild body shot.
Joshua looks to score with a jab to the body but Arones is just out of range.
Joshua stuns Arones with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arones avoids the body shot from Joshua.
Joshua looks to score with a jab to the body but Arones is just out of range.
Arones changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Arones shoots in for a double leg but Joshua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joshua just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Arones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joshua scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Arones staying out of range there.
Arones half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Joshua misses the target.
Arones attempts a counter takedown but Joshua avoids it well and moves away.
Arones moves out of range as Joshua strikes.
Arones drops down looking for a counter takedown but Joshua sprawls and moves away.
Joshua takes a swing at Arones's ribcage but misses.
Arones tries to counter with a takedown but Joshua is quick to defend against it.
Mr Joshua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joshua circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joshua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Joshua.
Joshua throws a body punch but Arones moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Arones. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Arones.
Arones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Arones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joshua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joshua was well out of range. Poor timing from Arones.
A nice side step and Joshua releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Arones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Arones lands in his opponent's guard.
Arones trying to control but Joshua is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arones slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joshua is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Arones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Joshua is looking to regain half guard here but Arones keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Arones wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Joshua, who protects the arm well.
Arones working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Joshua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joshua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mr Joshua!
Mr Joshua took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.